White will serve more time for killing his wife's fetus

BLUFFTON, Ind. (WANE) - A Wells County jury has decided murderer Tyler White will get an enhanced sentence for causing the death of his wife's fetus.

White cannot be found guilty of feticide because the Indiana Court of Appeals said it would be double jeopardy.

However, on April 21, 2009, six months before Amy was killed, Indiana Senate Bill 236 was passed.  This allows a sentence enhancement for feticide.  The person (Tyler White) while committing or attempting to commit murder or felony murder, causes the termination of a human pregnancy may be sentenced to an additional term of imprisonment of six to 20 years.

The state called Dr. Thomas Wheeler to the stand first Tuesday morning shortly before 9 a.m.  He was Amy's OB/GYN.  He saw her two weeks before she was killed.  Dr. Wheeler performed an ultrasound on Amy's fetus.  He confirmed she was 10 weeks pregnant at the time he saw her.  Dr. Wheeler said the baby was healthy and he's 90% sure the fetus would have survived otherwise.

Second was the doctor who performed Amy's autopsy, Dr. Scott Wagner.  While performing the autopsy he said he found a male fetus.  It was at approximately 12 weeks gestation.  Dr. Wagner believes the baby died due to Amy's internal bleeding from when Tyler shot her twice.  He handed out pictures of the fetus inside and outside of the womb to the jury.  NewsChannel 15 has also learned Amy died because she went into shock.

It took the jury no longer than 15 minutes to deliberate.  They said Tyler's actions caused the death of Amy's fetus. 

This will add 6-20 years onto his sentence.

White will have a pre-sentencing investigation with the judge on November 4, 2011.  He will be sentenced November 14, 2001 at 9 a.m.